Definition
The certificated personnel assigned to operate an aircraft during flight, including the pilot in command and, depending on the aircraft and operation, a second in command (copilot) and any flight engineer required by the aircraft's type certificate or the regulations under which the flight is conducted.
Plain English
The pilots (and any other required cockpit crew members) who actually fly the aircraft. It does not include flight attendants or ground staff.
Context Anchor
Seen in runway safety, taxi, takeoff, landing, and cockpit communication discussions, especially when the FAA is describing who must notice instructions, clearances, signs, and other traffic.
Derivation
‘Crew’ comes from the Old French ‘creue,’ meaning a band of people gathered for a task. ‘Flight crew’ narrows that to the people whose task is operating the aircraft in flight — distinct from cabin crew, who look after passengers.
Why Pilots Care
Clear identification of flight crew responsibilities ensures proper coordination and decision-making that directly reduces the risk of runway incursions.
Intuition Check
Do not assume flight crew means everyone on board. Passengers are not part of the flight crew; in a small training airplane, the flight crew may be just the instructor and student pilot, or just one pilot flying alone.
Example Sentence 1
Before crossing any runway, the flight crew confirms the clearance and visually checks for traffic on final.
Example Sentence 2
Good flight crew coordination prevented a potential incursion during taxi.